When The Cleats Come Off

Everybody has goals—but a goal is really just a dream with work boots on. In this slightly unhinged car-ride-home episode, Ashley gets real about the gap between SAYING you want something and actually doing the boring, uncomfortable, consistent work required to give yourself a chance at achieving it.From the one-arm drills she hated that helped shape her into a Big Ten power hitter, to showing up when motivation is nowhere to be found, to making every rep intentional, this episode is a challenge for athletes heading into the offseason: pick the thing that will move the needle most, fall in love with the process of becoming great, and get to work.Because doing it and saying it are not the same thing.Ep. 67 – 10 challenges to amp up your hitting - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/dc50d78b-e2d9-40ce-9f90-cf9d2129f2b1/ Follow When the Cleats Come Off on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whenthecleatscomeoff/ Write a review of this episode on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274 If you liked this episode, you’ll enjoy these, too:Ep. 193 – Your goals should have you OBSESSED — here’s why! - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/288a65d6-1ae5-4387-959a-eb660bbdb63a/ Ep. 203 – Building a successful at-home practice SYSTEM to achieve your goals - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2228e100-d0ed-4443-92c0-9b1c642ac5d3/ Ep. 235 - 6 ways to attack your next practice - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/0977818f-76d1-4698-8b10-93256de9b40c/ ✨ Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!Let us know inside the When the Cleats Come Off Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1073225329733684 Tag @whenthecleatscomeoff on Instagram and share your biggest takeaway!If this episode is one that you loved, let me and others know by:⭐ Leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274 🎧 Subscribing to the show on your favorite platform📩 Sharing it with a teammate or coach who needs this messagePurchase some WTCCO Swag! - https://ashley-b-training.myshopify.com/collections/new-when-the-cleats-come-off-collection Follow and share with me your favorite parts on social media!Website - https://www.ashleybtraining.com/ YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmey7_LOSN8tSia6gcWqtIzTTyTDpOodr Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ashleybtraining Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AshleyBurkhardtTraining/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/smashley_4 Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleybtraining

Olympian and two-time National Champion Aubree Munro Watson returns to the podcast to talk about her new book, Born Ready: Making the Most of the Moments That Mark Our Lives. Aubree shares the “Born Ready moments” that shaped her journey — from being the quiet one and hearing “no” from coaches she respected, to heartbreak, tested faith, national championships and ultimately the Olympic stage. This conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the moments that feel like setbacks are actually preparing us for what’s ahead.Grab her book “Born Ready” - https://www.aubreemunrowatson.com/born-ready Follow Aubree on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aubree1munro Learn more about the Virtual Hitting Academy VIP Program - https://www.ashleybtraining.com/virtual-hitting-academy-2-0 Write a review of this episode on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274 Watch this interview on YouTube! - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmey7_LOSN8tSia6gcWqtIzTTyTDpOodrIf you liked this episode, you’ll enjoy these, too:Ep. 32 - Part 1 with Aubree Munro Watson: The Selflessness of Catching and the Road to the Olympic Dream - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7a2f1190-3519-4ceb-80c6-2df064743606/ Ep. 33 - Part 2 with Aubree Munro Watson: Leadership Behind the Plate, Identity Struggles, Athletes Unlimited and Church on the Dirt https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ffc62081-d4a1-4aac-b4bf-e822d799605f/ Ep. 188 - Aubree Munro Watson: Softball is BACK in the Olympics in 2028 but…in Oklahoma City? https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9f4aaae9-47d4-4e4d-ac31-57eaf1a223de/ ✨ Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!Let us know inside the When the Cleats Come Off Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1073225329733684 Tag @whenthecleatscomeoff on Instagram and share your biggest takeaway!If this episode is one that you loved, let me and others know by:⭐ Leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274 🎧 Subscribing to the show on your favorite platform📩 Sharing it with a teammate or coach who needs this messagePurchase some WTCCO Swag! - https://ashley-b-training.myshopify.com/collections/new-when-the-cleats-come-off-collection Follow and share with me your favorite parts on social media!Website - https://www.ashleybtraining.com/ YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmey7_LOSN8tSia6gcWqtIzTTyTDpOodr Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ashleybtraining Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AshleyBurkhardtTraining/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/smashley_4 Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleybtraining

Nebraska Head Coach Rhonda Revelle joins When the Cleats Come Off for one of our deepest conversations on leadership yet. We talk about what it means to view leadership as service and what it looks like leading with love at the forefront, the staff and culture behind Nebraska’s historic run, the phone call that brought Jordy Frahm (Bahl) home, aggressive baserunning, and how Coach Revelle intentionally prepares her athletes for the biggest moments.Follow Coach Revelle on Twitter (her favorite platform) - https://x.com/RhondaRevelle Check out our When the Cleats Come Off Merch - https://ashley-b-training.myshopify.com/ Write a review on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274 Watch this interview on YouTube! - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmey7_LOSN8tSia6gcWqtIzTTyTDpOodr✨ Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!Let us know inside the When the Cleats Come Off Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1073225329733684 Tag @whenthecleatscomeoff on Instagram and share your biggest takeaway!If you liked this episode, you’ll enjoy these, too:Ep. 13 & 14— Sue Enquist: Softball Is More Than Just a Game - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/abad8344-cb63-4808-841c-438316e81ce8/ Ep. 100 & 101 — Carol Hutchins: Building a Winning Legacy - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7d2d1c77-2062-4839-bf53-db26f6dd9d81/ Ep. 89 & 90 — Kevin DeShazo: Leadership, Influence and How to “Keep Chopping Wood” - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/af28444c-edd9-402a-913f-f5aa22af9ec9/ Ep. 251 – Bonnie Tholl and Carol Hutchins: What the elite of the ELITE are doing different - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c37c9255-0824-4609-be2a-3e469244f94e/ If this episode is one that you loved, let me and others know by:⭐ Leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274 🎧 Subscribing to the show on your favorite platform📩 Sharing it with a teammate or coach who needs this messagePurchase some WTCCO Swag! - https://ashley-b-training.myshopify.com/collections/new-when-the-cleats-come-off-collection Follow and share with me your favorite parts on social media!Website - https://www.ashleybtraining.com/ YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmey7_LOSN8tSia6gcWqtIzTTyTDpOodr Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ashleybtraining Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AshleyBurkhardtTraining/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/smashley_4 Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleybtraining

Former Notre Dame Softball Strength & Conditioning Coach Colleen Fozkos joins me to talk about what it REALLY takes to build stronger, faster, more athletic softball players. We dive into why young athletes should learn how to move and train properly, Colleen’s favorite strength movements for softball players, speed and agility development, injury prevention and recovery, and how her own experience battling injury as a collegiate soccer player shaped the coach she became.Follow Colleen on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/colleenfozkos/Join my email list to see FIRST what project we have coming! - https://www.ashleybtraining.com/Write a review on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274You’ll learn:An intro to the weight room and why we shouldn’t be intimidated by it as athletesSome softball specific movements to generate more power and athleticismHow it’s not hard to get faster, no matter your speed right now!Things you could start doing from HOME right now to become a more high level athleteInjury prevention, including important recovery techniquesHow battling through an injury is NOT an ultimatum, but can even be a superpowerWhere to start with strength training and more!Watch this interview on YouTube! - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmey7_LOSN8tSia6gcWqtIzTTyTDpOodr If you liked this episode, check these out, too:Ep. 65 - Chase d’Arnaud: The importance of Speed and Spring Technique - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/47e0b1e2-8ba7-42e9-b682-871389fb770b/Ep. 194 — Delaney Spaulding: “From ACL Tear to an Olympic Silver Medalist” - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/8550782f-10ad-42e9-af02-51e2efda5882/ Ep. 106 - Jennifer Schwartz: “Injury Prevention and Active Recovery Techniques” - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b1851732-16e3-41da-8a15-712e24c5215b/ Ep. 211 - Sports Performance Coach Paige Rose: From D1 softball pitching to the U.S. Marine Corps - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/87569f81-c147-4cfc-b00a-5f993ebe8e3a/ ‼️As a quick reminder, the strength training information shared in this episode is for educational purposes. Athletes—especially young athletes—should learn and perform these movements under the supervision of a qualified professional to ensure proper technique and safe progression.✨ Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!Let us know inside the When the Cleats Come Off Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1073225329733684 Tag @whenthecleatscomeoff on Instagram and share your biggest takeaway!If this episode is one that you loved, let me and others know by:⭐ Leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274 🎧 Subscribing to the show on your favorite platform📩 Sharing it with a teammate or coach who needs this messagePurchase some WTCCO Swag! - https://ashley-b-training.myshopify.com/collections/new-when-the-cleats-come-off-collectionFollow and share with me your favorite parts on social media!Website - https://www.ashleybtraining.com/YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmey7_LOSN8tSia6gcWqtIzTTyTDpOodrInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ashleybtrainingFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/AshleyBurkhardtTraining/Twitter - https://twitter.com/smashley_4Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleybtraining

This week on When the Cleats Come Off, I'm joined by two of the most respected leaders in college softball—Michigan Head Coach Bonnie Tholl and legendary Hall of Fame coach Carol Hutchins. Recorded live at Amanda Schaefer's Fearless Warrior Mental Edge Experience just before the 2026 season, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom on leadership, building resilient athletes, creating fearless competitors, and what separates championship programs from everyone else.We talk about choosing team captains, intentionally practicing failure, coaching athletes through mistakes, one of Hutch's favorite John Wooden quotes, and the adversity that helped Michigan capture the 2025 Big Ten Tournament title. Plus, don't miss the incredible story of Amanda Chidester's journey back to Team USA—it'll leave you inspired.In this episode, we cover:Building ownership and self-awareness within a teamWhat makes an effective team captainWhy Michigan consistently develops championship-caliber athletesHow to coach failure without creating fearDeveloping resilient, confident competitorsLeadership lessons from Carol Hutchins and Bonnie ThollAmanda Chidester's remarkable comeback storyLearn more about the Fearless Warrior Membership and get a 7 Day Free Trial here - https://www.skool.com/fearlesswarriors/about Purchase some WTCCO Swag! - https://ashley-b-training.myshopify.com/collections/new-when-the-cleats-come-off-collection Follow and share with me your favorite parts on social media!Website - https://www.ashleybtraining.com/ YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmey7_LOSN8tSia6gcWqtIzTTyTDpOodr Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ashleybtraining Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AshleyBurkhardtTraining/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/smashley_4 Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleybtraining Past episodes of WTCCO you might like:Ep. 100 - Carol Hutchins: Building a Winning Legacy, Part 1 of 2 - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7d2d1c77-2062-4839-bf53-db26f6dd9d81/ Ep. 101 - Carol Hutchins: Building a Winning Legacy, Part 2 of 2- https://player.captivate.fm/episode/cdf5c665-f594-4768-bdb9-40c3897936cf/Ep. 163 - Coach Carol Hutchins: The secret sauce to successful teams - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/4e2435fe-fcf9-460d-88bf-9bdbca04b8be/ Ep. 152 - Gaining the mental edge as a hitter: Recording from the Fearless Warrior Podcast w/ Mental Performance Coach, Amanda Schaefer - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-the-cleats-come-off/id1525612274?i=1000631703797